2× Chevy Bison

[Jürgen M.]

Great job on both Bisons Rockford! Your precise Work makes them look like the big ones! Amazing! 

[Randy D]

Very impressive results from these kits !!!

Randy

[Rockford]

Time waits for no truck. Now that the W900 is finished I turned my attention back to the Bison. 

I did the procedure for deepening the wheel dishes on the tandems. I'm getting a good little system together on this now. Improves the look no end. Many thanks to Force for encouraging me to do it on the Sundance job. 

I've wanted to try making some half fenders out of ali sheet for some time now and this truck seems a good candidate. Shaped the fenders around a mop handle. Used some 2.3mm ali tube as brackets because I'd already drilled the chassis for the kit ones. Wired them together and installed a rear support using 1.5mm brass tube. Before assembly I polished the fenders with Solvol Autosol metal polish and the felt wheel on my rotary tool. (Evidence that I can't drill a hole in the right place!)

Couldn't resist a mock-up. 

[Gary Chastain]

Those fenders look awesome, well done

[Rockford]

It's done nothing but rain here recently, but got a decent day Friday and had a few hours spare so decided to get the chassis and tanks painted. 

I had bought a vibrant Orange from Hycote but sadly it didn't come out as vibrant as I'd hoped. Finish is ok. Put everything back together and looking good. 

Tried another way to deal with the hollow Monogram "tyres", I sliced the sidewalls off some of the hundreds of spare SMT tyres and put them into the Monogram "tyres". Not fantastic but fills the void that is usually there. I'm sure someone will think that the tyre sidewalls shouldn't touch in real life as it causes heat related tyre failure but this will do. 

I can't understand why the aluminium paint turned out so dark on the rear wheels. Maybe the shape caused me to put it on too thick, the fronts turned out fine. Not sure what to do. 

 

[Rockford]

Couldn't leave the rear wheels looking so dark so found myself repainting them with Humbrol No11 at 11pm last night, appropriately. I wouldn't have slept. Results are much much better. 

[Rockford]

Using 1.5mm aluminium tube I made some palm couplings and the electric plug. 

I crush 2mm of the tube as much as possible, then shape the flattened part into the round head of a palm coupling. 

On the electric plug I cut a groove down the back and bent the sides out to form the pull tabs, looks acceptable. 

Bit of elastic thread and draped them over the pogo stick. 

[Jürgen M.]

Really nice details! Keep going! ?

[Randy D]

Hi Steve,

  You do some wonderful scratch building!!!

Randy

[Gary Chastain]

Really like how you did the air lines and electrical connection, gotta steal that one. 

[Chariots of Fire]

I had the same issue with the Monogram hollow back tires.  Since I had several extras, I sliced off the front sidewalls of the spares and glued them to the back of the tires and then sanded down the edges.  Made all the difference in the world on how the tires looked.

[Rockford]

9 hours ago, Gary Chastain said:

Really like how you did the air lines and electrical connection, gotta steal that one. 

It's only out of desperation and necessity! ?

[Rockford]

4 hours ago, Chariots of Fire said:

I had the same issue with the Monogram hollow back tires.  Since I had several extras, I sliced off the front sidewalls of the spares and glued them to the back of the tires and then sanded down the edges.  Made all the difference in the world on how the tires looked.

I can see how that would work. With using the AMT kits for my two W900 's, I've got at least 20 AMT tyres lying around. They're only fit to use on trailers because of the size issue so I put them to use here. It's such a shame that AMT made such a great job of these tyres in all but the size, they're perfect otherwise. The Monogram tyres are awful but they look OK size-wise and from a distance. Thanks for the idea though.  

[Bennyg]

Very nice! 
 

Ben

[Rockford]

On 7/11/2024 at 8:38 AM, Bennyg said:

 

Thanks Ben, weren't you working on a 1/32 Mack? 

[Rockford]

Starting to round this one up. Put the mascara on the glass seals, put BMF on the handles, arch trims etc... Had to rechrome the grille shell with BMF, added mudflaps to the front, made the little repeater lights for the front fenders. Still a lot to do though.

I've got a visor to sort and I'm thinking of a stripe scheme. I'm quite sure of the layout, it's just the colour. I'm wavering between two:-

I printed them off on ordinary paper, cut them out and draped them across the cab. Doesn't help. 

[Russell C]

10 hours ago, Rockford said:

....quite sure of the layout, it's just the colour. I'm wavering between two:-

I'll admit I was worried on what direction you were headed after the choice of the 'safety orange' color (ya ain't from this side of the pond, are ya? ?) frame .... but now I see it with your stripes! Favoring the lighter of the two myself.

[Trendsetta68]

Lookin' awesome ! ??

[Bennyg]

On 7/14/2024 at 4:16 AM, Rockford said:

Thanks Ben, weren't you working on a 1/32 Mack? 

I still am. Need to hook in. Show in August 

Ben

[gotnitro?]

Excellent work! 

[Rockford]

Formed a visor from aluminium sheet. Decided not to paint it but polish it instead. Looks ok. Took umpteen attempts to get an acceptable shape but I've got a method now. 

Cut the mudflap crossbar to open the rear of the chassis. 

[Rockford]

On the final stretch with this I think. Decals I printed went on so smoothly I couldn't believe it, the struggles I have had with my own decals sets. I think the clear I use to seal them makes a difference. I used Humbrol Acrylic Varnish this time, no bleed through, sat down nicely etc... Just need to trim around some features once they're fully set. 

Very happy with the BISON script and the little critter I drew freehand next to it. My old art teacher told us to draw what the eye sees, not what you know is there. 

[Gary Chastain]

Outstanding work

[Rockford]

Finished! Fitted my front bumper, used straight pins to simulate the dome headed bolts in the bumper. Added homemade license plates. Fitted the air cleaner and Luberfiner, sleeper steps made from big paperclips and scratchbuilt mirrors. Very pleased with the result, will post in Under Glass tomorrow.

[Bennyg]

Very nice work!

Ben